VoIP + Networking Woes

I'm not much of a hardware guy, and networking has never been my strong suit... so maybe those of you with experience in business networking could shed some light.

I'm trying to get a group of about 10 guys dialing outbound (simultaneously) from my small office using VoIP softphones (that is, software phone apps running on WinXP desktops).

My current setup here is using a D-Link DIR-825 connected to a fiber 5 mbit up/down (synchronous) line. I've also got a 24-port Cisco unmanaged (dumb) switch plugged into the DIR-825. Most of the connections in the office plug directly into the dumb Cisco switch, and then out to the router. Yes, I know, ghetto.

We've tried getting 4 guys on the computers using Google Voice dialing out, but as soon as more than 2 of them start calling, Google Voice starts throwing errors or the voice quality goes to shit.

My best guess is that this consumer-grade router just can't handle that many simultaneous calls. Either that or Google Voice uses a gigantic amount of bandwidth... but I don't see that being the case.

I'm thinking of buying something like a DGS-3100-48 but I want to make sure this will solve the problem first.

Setting up a sales desk or whatever your doing is a fine art. I tried many methods and finally had to bring in reinforcements. They hacked into the adsl switch to change its setup and everything managed to work after that. The providers seem to be preventing VOIP across multiple pipes. So you need the right local knowledge.

I am running a call center in India. I am using the same technology as what you are using now at your setup. First, google voice not using VOIP for voice calls, thats the reason you are facing this problem.With the setup what you are having now, you can make 10 agents to dial at same time by using soft phones like x-lite. SIgn up with icall.com they will give you free minuts to test, test with your setup. Then only you will have a clear idea.

Ahh thanks for the input. So even with a consumer router I should be able to do 10 agents at a time as long as I don't use Google Voice?

I tried using X-Lite with Voip.MS as my SIP trunk, but I couldn't get any audio to go through (I was able to register the accounts in my softphone, but no dialtone or audio of any kind)... try as I might to open all necessary ports. Have you encountered a problem like that before?

Forget Goolge voice for trunking. Who knows what coding algorithm they are using and other items they have included to suck up bandwidth. 10 phones using G.711 should only use 800 kbps. If you have the time look into Trixbox. You can setup your soft-phones monitor your bandwidth and see what your entire call center is doing. I have 6 trixboxes working in call centers with no problems using just cable internet.

I am a telecom specialist and can provide you solution. I provide VoIP for small businesses all over the world with my service, uVOIPit LLC. We terminated alot of minutes a day and can help you.

All i can say is that you bought too much equipment. All you really require is a server, and a VOIP wholesaler. The dedicated server you can get frm anyone, and the wholesale part I can help you with. I can give you the cheapest prices to call internationally or even in the US.

Then you can use XLite softphone to call from your computer, or if you want better setup you can use Linksys phone adapters. But i recommend using Xlite.

Honestly, I have alot to say and its better if we chat on skype or msn. uVOIPit in USA is a top notch company that i have built and can help you.

I hope this is not taken as an Ad, I have been a member here for a long time.

I was a systems Admin and used some consumer grade routers to set up an office temporarily for a group of 5 users work there prior to moving our servers and set up of a permanent managed switches etc.

What I found was the consumer grade routers have a setting (generally on by default )that limit concurrent connections to like 25 sessions or so. I can't remember what they called the setting on those routers but I would look into that on the admin pages before the hassle of buying new hardware.

This was several years ago and they were not on voice solutions but they were attempting to use VPN and once 2 or 3 of them were online no more connections worked.
Hope this helps

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